# Is "The Night Traveler" by Mary Oliver a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of The Night Traveler by Mary Oliver (Bits Press, 1978) is identified by: Chapbook issued by Bits Press, Cleveland, 1978, in stapled printed wrappers with a reproduced William Blake woodcut on the front cover. US Bits Press; a scarce small-press first with a limited run.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- Chapbook issued by Bits Press, Cleveland, 1978, in stapled printed wrappers with a reproduced William Blake woodcut on the front cover
- Small print run; some copies were signed by Oliver
- First and only printing
- Publisher imprint reads Bits Press
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Mary Oliver |
| Publisher | Bits Press |
| Year | 1978 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | Chapbook issued by Bits Press, Cleveland, 1978, in stapled printed wrappers with a… |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## Points of issue
Chapbook issued by Bits Press, Cleveland, 1978, in stapled printed wrappers with a reproduced William Blake woodcut on the front cover. Small print run; some copies were signed by Oliver. First and only printing.

## Is this the true first?
US Bits Press; a scarce small-press first with a limited run.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book club edition.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *The Night Traveler* by Mary Oliver a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/the-night-traveler
CC BY 4.0. Part of the Canonical First-Edition Points of Issue dataset (https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/api/first-edition-titles.json). Last reviewed 2026-07-03.